Studies to date have shown that GPR30 / GPER activation consistently results in cell proliferation.

True or false?

MCF-7 cells are used in this lab because they express the relevant receptors of interest, and readily proliferate.

While the MCF-7 cells are maintained in culture, the primary stimuli for their growth include:

*Select as many as you think apply. 

Match each of the following agents with its CORRECT mechanism.

In this lab, cells will undergo four different treatments.  Cell samples will be stained with Erythrosin B, and images captured under the microscope of FIVE different areas of each cell sample.

You will need to count the cells in each of these five different areas, then record the average.

Which of the following BEST explains why five separate areas of the same treatment sample should be counted? 

*Select as many as you think apply. 

You have just added a small volume of MCF-7 cells to an equal volume of Erythrosin B dye.  You add this mixture to a cell counter slide and look at this under the microscope. 

Of the arrows pointing A - D in the above image, which one MOST ACCURATELY represents how a non-viable / dead cell is likely to appear?

You have stained your cell sample with Erythrosin B and are going to count the proportion of live and dead cells in this sample.

If cell death = (number of dead cells / number of total (alive + dead) cells) × 100, which one of the following options MOST CLOSELY represents the percentage of dead cells in this sample?

You treat MCF-7 cells for 24 hours with vehicle, estrogen and the newly developed selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM), BRB99.  Following treatment you carry out the MTT assay and measure the absorbance of each sample at 540nm.

The results are shown in the graph below, with absorbance expressed as % of control.

Based only on these results, which one of the following can you definitely conclude about BRB99? 

This SERM:

Which one of the following statements about GABAa receptor subunits is CORRECT?

Tetracyclic anti-depressants such as mianserin, act as pre-synaptic alpha2 receptor antagonists.

In addition to their effects on mood, which of the following might also be associated with these drugs?

*Pick all that apply.

Tricyclic anti-depressants such as desipramine: